MIAMI – Allan Houston had the ball and game in his hands with a half-minute remaining, the Knicks trailing by two points. All seemed OK

in the Knicks’ universe until Houston, instead of trying to create his own shot, turned into Joe Montana. He passed.

“That’s the single play I’d like to have back,” Houston said after the Heat squeezed out an 87-83 victory out of Game 1 of their second-round playoff war yesterday.

Houston’s entry pass into the post for Patrick Ewing was tipped away by P.J. Brown and Tim Hardaway scooped up the loose ball. Moments later, Alonzo Mourning hit the game-sealer with 5.6 seconds left, and Houston was left to wonder what made him try the low-percentage dish to Ewing.

“It’s one of those passes I would’ve had to really thread the needle,” Houston said. “I don’t care if it’s Jerry Rice. It would’ve been a tough one to catch. As soon as I threw it, I said I wish I could’ve had that back.”

Houston’s dish was telegraphed more in the fashion of an Elvis Grbac heave.

“I knew it, I saw it, I don’t think Allan saw it,” said Brown.

Houston finished the game with five turnovers, three down the stretch. The Knicks had four in the last five minutes.

“Total lack of concentration,” Houston said. “It’s disappointing, but I’m not going to bury my head. I’ve got to learn from it. If I’m going to be the guy with the ball in my hands late in games, I have to at least get a shot up or make something happen. That’s what I’ve been able to do in the past. Today was disappointing. That’s the gift God gave me, to make something happen at that time.”

Houston, who finished with a team-high 21 points, accounted for the Knicks’ last two makes of the game – the last one coming with 5:34 remaining that gave the Knicks a two-point lead, 81-79.

In a fitting ending, any Knick comeback hopes were dashed when Miami’s Dan Majerle stripped Houston with four seconds left.